This monthly recap of March 2016 worldwide public holidays news and updates,
covering all the countries of the world, is based on our daily review of hundreds of on-line newspapers, government sites, and institutional sources,
and over a decade of experience following worldwide public holidays, to place current events in context, and anticipate on
possible future changes.

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Laos 2016 Public Holidays Extended (Source: The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic-Ventiane) - Summary: The government of Laos has released an amended and extended version of its previously-announced annual official list of non-working public holidays in Laos for the calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Laos news and updates.

Panama May Day Public Holiday May 2nd (Source: Presidencia de la República de Panamá-Panama City) - Summary: The government of Panama has issued a decree which, once again, moves the upcoming, Labour Day, non-working public holiday of Panama from Sunday, May 1st, 2016, to Monday, May 2, 2016. Links: full story and other Panama news and updates.

Finland Votes Annual Holidays Act Amendments (Source: Helsingin Sanomat-Helsinki) - Summary: The Finnish Parliament has approved changes to the Finnish Annual Holiday Act as part of the current austerity reforms, and these amendments will come into effect on April 1st, 2016.
Links: full story and other Finland news and updates.

Taiwan Public Holidays Reduction Update (Source: Taiwan Central Personnel Administration-Taipei) - Summary: The Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee of Taiwan's Legislative Assembly has sent back the recent Executive Yuan executive order, reducing Taiwan's statutory holidays from 19 to 12, to the general assembly with a recommendation that it reject it. Links: full story and other Taiwan news and updates.

Greece Public Holiday May 3rd (Source: The Bank of Greece-Athens) - Summary: The Bank of Greece, Greece's Central Bank, has issued a communiqué amending the previously-released list of 2016 bank holidays in Greece, by moving this year's annual May 1st bank holiday to Tuesday, May 3, 2016, as was done on some previous occasions in the past. Links: full story and other Greece news and updates.

Kazakhstan May 2016 Public Holidays (Source: Electronic government of the Republic of Kazakhstan-Astana) - Summary: The government of Kazakhstan has announced that Monday, May 10, 2016, had been declared a day in lieu non-working public holiday in Kazakhstan to compensate the annual Victory Day public holiday of Kazakhstan falling on a Sunday in 2016. Links: full story and other Kazakhstan news and updates.

Sweden 2017 Bank Holidays and Public Holidays Announced (Source: Sveriges Riksbank-Stockholm) - Summary: Sweden's Central Bank (Sveriges Riksbank) has released its list of bank holidays in Sweden with the announcement of Swedish bank holidays, as well as public holidays in Sweden, for the calendar year 2017. Links: full story and other Sweden news and updates.

Malaysian Johor Bank Holidays Extended (Source: The Association Of Banks In Malaysia-Johor Baru) - Summary: The Association Of Banks In Malaysia (Persatuan Bank Bank Dalam Malaysia) has announced that 17 of its member banks in the Malaysian State of Johor has decided to henceforth declare a day in lieu Monday bank holiday in Malaysia's State of Johor, whenever a non-working public holiday in Malaysia falls on a Sunday. Links: full story and other Malaysia news and updates.

Sri Lankan 2017 Poya Public Holidays Announced (Source: The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka-Colombo) - Summary: Sri Lanka's Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs has published in the "Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka", its annual official list of the 12/13 Sri Lankan Poya Day non-working public holidays in Sri Lanka for the upcoming calendar year 2017. Links: full story and other Sri Lanka news and updates.

Ukraine May 2016 Public Holidays (Source: Cabinet of Ministers of the Ukraine-Kiev) - Summary: The Ministry of Social Policy of the Ukraine has issued a communiqué confirming and detailing the official list of May 2016 non-working public holidays in the Ukraine, as had been announced late last year. Links: full story and other Ukraine news and updates.

Ivory Coast Public Holidays March 27-28 (Source: Gouvernement de Côte d'Ivoire-Abijan) - Summary: The government of the Ivory Coast, through its Ministère de l'Emploi, des Affaires Sociales et de la Solidarité Nationale, has announced that it had declared Monday, March 28, 2016, the day after the Easter Sunday non-working public holiday, as another non-working public holiday in the Ivory Coast. Links: full story and other Côte d'Ivoire news and updates.

Fiji Cancels March 30 Public Holiday (Source: Ministry of Information-Suva) - Summary: Fiji's Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Semi Koroilavesau, has announced that the upcoming March 30, 2016, non-working public holiday in Fiji, as set out in the "Gazette Notice No.68" listing the annual non-working public holidays in Fiji in 2016, had been canceled ("All workers, employers and the public are advised that there will not be a public holiday on Wednesday next week"). Links: full story and other Fiji news and updates.

Lebanon April 4 Public Holiday Ruled-Out (Source: Government Portal for Information and Forms-Republic of Lebanon) - Summary: The Government of Lebanon, reacting to the recent declaration of Monday, April 4, 2016, as a compensatory non-working bank holiday in Lebanon in 2016 to compensate the fact that the Annunciation non-working public holiday of Lebanon falls on the date of another non-working public holiday of Lebanon in 2016, namely Western Good Friday, has re-issued an unchanged list of official Lebanese non-working public holidays in Lebanon for the calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Lebanon news and updates.

Gambian Public Holidays March 25 and 28 (Source: Office of the President of the Gambia-Banjul) - Summary: Gambia's president, Yahya Jammeh, has declared Friday, March 25, 2016, and Monday, March 28, 2016, as non-working public holidays throughout the Gambia "in recognition of Good Friday and Easter Monday". Links: full story and other The Gambia news and updates.

Philippines Easter 2016 Public Holidays (Source: Philippine Information Agency-Manila) - Summary: The Philippines Government Labor and Employment Secretary, Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, has emailed a reminder to the Philippines population that Thursday and Friday, March 24 and 25, 2016, had both been declared as non-working public holidays in the Philippines, on account of the upcoming Maundy Thursday and Good Friday public holidays of the Philippines. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.

Bolivian Easter 2016 Public Holidays (Source: Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Previsión Social-La Paz) - Summary: Bolivia's Minister of Labour, Ramón Vilca, has announced that the upcoming Easter public holidays in Bolivia would once again begin on the afternoon of Maundy Thursday, with Good Friday (March 25, 2016) having been declared a national public holiday in Bolivia (feriado nacional). Links: full story and other Bolivia news and updates.

Sint Maarten Public Holiday March 25 (Source: Government of Sint Maarten-Great Bay) - Summary: Sint Maarten's Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (Ministry TEATT), has officially declared Friday, March 25, 2016, as a non-working public holiday in Sint Maarten on account of the upcoming Good Friday annual non-working public holiday in Sint Maarten. Links: full story and other Sint Maarten news and updates.

Pakistan Sindh Public Holiday March 24 (Source: Associated Press Of Pakistan-Karachi) - Summary: The Chief Minister of the Government of Pakistan's Province of Sindh, Shahbaz Sharif, has declared Thursday, March 24, 2016, as a one-off regional non-working public holiday to commemorate the Hindu festival of Holi. Links: full story and other Pakistan news and updates.

Nigerian Easter 2016 Public Holidays (Source: Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria-Abuja) - Summary: The acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, has announced that the Nigerian Government had declared Friday, March 25, and Monday, March 28, 2016, as non-working public holidays to commemorate this year's upcoming Good Friday and Easter Monday non-working public holidays in Nigeria, respectively. Links: full story and other Nigeria news and updates.

Lebanon 2016 Bank Holidays Amended Again (Source: Banque du Liban-Beirut) - Summary: The Association of Banks in Lebanon in conjunction with the Banque du Liban (Lebanon's Central Bank), has issued yet another amended version of the annual list of Lebanese non-working bank holidays in Lebanon for the calendar year 2016, by declaring a compensatory non-working bank holiday in Lebanon in 2016 to compensate the fact that the Annunciation non-working public holiday of Lebanon falls on the date of another non-working public holiday of Lebanon in 2016, namely Western Good Friday. Links: full story and other Lebanon news and updates.

Timor Leste Public Holiday March 24 (Source: Press Release Government Of Timor-Leste-Dili) - Summary: The government of Timor Leste has announced that it had once again decided to extend the 2016 annual Easter non-working public holidays in Timor Leste by declaring an additional day-off public sector holiday (toleránsia pontu) for Maundy Thursday, on Thursday, March 24, 2016. Links: full story and other East Timor news and updates.

Pakistan Public Holiday March 23 (Source: Pakistan's Ministry of Interior-Islamabad) - Summary: The Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Government of Pakistan has announced that Wednesday, March 23, 2016, would be the date of the upcoming annual non-working public holiday throughout Pakistan on account of the Pakistan Day 2016 non-working public holiday of Pakistan. Links: full story and other Pakistan news and updates.

Malaysian July 22 Sarawak Public Holiday Update (Source: Bernama News Agency-Kuching) - Summary: The Chief Minister of Malaysia's State of Sarawak, Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, has announced that his government "is set to make July 22 a public holiday[in Sarawak]in recognition of those who helped fight for independence from British rule in 1963". Links: full story and other Malaysia news and updates.

Portugal Public Holidays Officially Restored (Source: Assembleia da República-Lisboa) - Summary: The President of Portugal has promulgated the recent decree restoring the 4 annual non-working public holidays of Portugal ("Corpo de Deus, 5 de outubro, 1 de novembro e 1 de dezembro") which had been canceled as part of the 2011 austerity package. Links: full story and other Portugal news and updates.

Armenian Public Holiday March 28 (Source: Armenian News Agency-ARMENPRESS) - Summary: The Government of Armenia has announced, once again, that Monday, March 28, 2016, would be a non-working public holiday in Armenia, on account of the upcoming "Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ", to be compensated by declaring Saturday, April 2, 2016, as a regular working day. Links: full story and other Armenia news and updates.

Ghana 2016 Easter Public Holidays (Source: Ghana News Agency-Accra) - Summary: Ghana's Minister of the Interior, Kwesi Ahwoi, has announced that Friday, March 25, and Monday, March 28, 2016, had once again been declared statutory non-working public holidays in Ghana on account of the upcoming annual Good Friday and Easter Monday public holidays in Ghana. Links: full story and other Ghana news and updates.

Honduras Public Sector Holidays March 21-27 (Source: La Prensa Libre-Tegucigalpa) - Summary: The President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, has once again approved the declaration of the entire upcoming Holy Week (March 21-27, 2016) as additional non-working public holidays for Honduras' public sector employees. Links: full story and other Honduras news and updates.

Nicaraguan Easter 2016 Public Sector Holidays Extended (Source: Ministerio del Trabajo de Nicaragua-MITRAB) - Summary: Nicaragua's Coordinadora del Consejo de Comunicación y Ciudadanía, Rosario Murillo, has announced that Nicaragua's public sector workers and government services would, once again in 2016, close down for 9 and a half consecutive days of public sector holidays in Nicaragua on account of the upcoming Holy Week. Links: full story and other Nicaragua news and updates.

Kazakhstan Nauryz 2016 Public Holidays (Source: Electronic government of the Republic of Kazakhstan-Astana) - Summary: The government of Kazakhstan has announced that the upcoming Nauryz 2016 public holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan for the calendar year 2016 would be made-up of 5 consecutive non-working public holidays in Kazakhstan, from March 19-23, 2016. Links: full story and other Kazakhstan news and updates.

Venezuela Declares Weeklong Easter 2016 Public Holidays (Source: Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Comunicación e Información-Caracas) - Summary: Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, has declared the entire upcoming Holy Week 2016, from March 19 until March 27, 2016 inclusively, as non-working public holidays for the Venezuelan public sector as part of another attempt at load shedding. Links: full story and other Venezuela news and updates.

Iranian 2016-2017 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Islamic Consultative Assembly-Majlis) - Summary: The Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis), has officially announced the annual official list of non-working public holidays in Iran for the upcoming Persian year 1395, running from March 20, 2016, to March 20, 2017. Links: full story and other Iran news and updates.

Norway 2018 Bank Holidays and Public Holidays Announced (Source: Norges Bank-Oslo) - Summary: Norway's Central Bank (Norges Bank) has updated its multi-year list of bank holidays in Norway with the announcement of Norwegian bank holidays, as well as public holidays in Norway, for the calendar year 2018. Links: full story and other Norway news and updates.

Sri Lankan National Holiday March 13 (Source: Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs-Colombo) - Summary: The Sri Lankan Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs, J.J. Rathnasiri, has announced that the Sri Lankan Government had decided to declare March 13, 2016, as a national day of mourning in Sri Lanka in view of the funeral on that day of the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, Galagama Sri Aththadassi Thera. Links: full story and other Sri Lanka news and updates.

Guyana Rules-Out March 18 Public Holiday (Source: Guyana Government Information Agency-GINA) - Summary: The Minister of Natural Resources of Guyana, Raphael Trotman, at a post-cabinet press briefing, announced that Friday, March18, 2016, the day designated for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) will not be a one-off non-working public holiday in Guyana, as was the case on previous electoral dates. Links: full story and other Guyana news and updates.

Thailand 2016 Public Holidays Extension Approved (Source: The Bank of Thailand-Bangkok) - Summary: Thailand's Government Cabinet has officially approved last autumn draft decision to declare 3 additional one-off non-working public holidays in 2016 in Thailand, to create a four-day period of public holidays in Thailand near the annual Coronation Day public holiday, and a five-day period of public holidays for the annual Thai public holiday of Asalha Puja and Buddhist Lent. Links: full story and other Thailand news and updates.

UK Mulls Wales Public Holidays Bill (Source: UK House of Commons Information Office-London) - Summary: The Private Members' Bill "Devolution (Bank Holidays) (Wales) Bill 2015-16" has been introduced in the UK House of Commons under the "Ten Minute Rule" (SO No 23) by MP Mark Williams, and had its first reading. Links: full story and other UK news and updates.

Jersey May 9 Public Holiday Compensated (Source: States of Guernsey-St. Peter Port) - Summary: The Jersey States Employment Board has announced that the States of Jersey had overwhelmingly voted to award an extra non-working day of leave to the Jersey public sector, to compensate them for the Liberation Day non-working public holiday of Jersey falling on a Saturday, last year. Links: full story and other Jersey news and updates.

Mongolia Mulls Naadam 2016 Public Holidays Shift (Source: Montsame Agency-Ulaanbaatar) - Summary: The Cabinet of the Government of Mongolia has announced to the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, and the governors of all Mongolian provinces, that the upcoming Naadam 2016 non-working public holidays in Mongolia should be shifted due to the conflict of the 2016 Naadam non-working public holidays in Mongolia with the upcoming 11th ASEM Summit. Links: full story and other Mongolia news and updates.

Nepalese Public Holidays March 7-8-9 (Source: Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs-Kathmandu) - Summary: The Home Ministry of the Government of Nepal has announced that the Cabinet of the Government of Nepal had decided to declare 3 consecutive non-working public holidays in Nepal on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, March 7-8-9, 2016, on account of the upcoming "Shivaratri", "Women's Day" and "Lhosar" annual non-working public holidays of Nepal, respectively. Links: full story and other Nepal news and updates.

North Cyprus 2016 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus Ministry Of Foreign Affairs-Lefkosa) - Summary: The deputy director of the Office of Personnel of the Republic of Northern Cyprus has released the annual list of non-working public holidays in the Republic of Northern Cyprus for the calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other North Cyprus news and updates.

San Marino 2016 Public Holidays Released (Source: Banca Centrale della Repubblica di San Marino-San Marino) - Summary: San Marino's Central Bank has published the San Marino Government's annual official list of bank holidays and non-working public holidays in San Marino for the calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other San Marino news and updates.

Bermuda 2016 Bank Holidays Amended (Source: The Bermuda Monetary Authority-Hamilton) - Summary: The Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) which regulates the financial services sector of Bermuda, has in turn released an amended version of its previously-released annual list of the official bank holidays in Bermuda for the calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Bermuda news and updates.

Nepal Rules-Out Eclipse Public Holiday (Source: Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs-Kathmandu) - Summary: The Spokesperson for the Home Ministry of the Government of Nepal, Yadav Koirala, has announced that the Cabinet of the Government of Nepal had decided not to declare a one-off non-working public holiday in Nepal on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, on account of that day's partial solar eclipse which, according to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, will be visible in Nepal on Wednesday morning, March 9, 2016. Links: full story and other Nepal news and updates.

Mongolian Public Holiday March 8 (Source: Montsame Agency-Ulaanbaatar) - Summary: The Mongolian government has announced that Tuesday, March 8, 2016, would be a non-working public holiday in Mongolia, on account of International Women's Day. Links: full story and other Mongolia news and updates.

Ghana Public Holidays March 6-7 (Source: Ghana Government Portal-Accra) - Summary: Ghana's Minister of the Interior, Prosper Bani, has issued a statement reminding the public that Sunday, March 6, 2016, will be a statutory public holiday marking Ghana's Independence Anniversary. Links: full story and other Ghana news and updates.

Benin March 4 Public Holiday Canceled (Source: Site Officiel du président Béninois Boni Yayi-Cotonou) - Summary: Earlier tonight, the government of Benin issued a television statement infirming the previous announcement that Friday, March 4, 2016, had been declared as a non-working public holiday in Bénin on account of the upcoming Presidential elections that will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2016. Links: full story and other Bénin news and updates.

Kazakhstan 2016 Public Holidays Amended (Source: Electronic government of the Republic of Kazakhstan-Astana) - Summary: The government of Kazakhstan has released an amended and expanded version of its previously-released annual official list of non-working public holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan for the calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Kazakhstan news and updates.

Benin Public Holiday March 4 (Source: Site Officiel du président Béninois Boni Yayi-Cotonou) - Summary: The government of Benin, through its "ministre du travail et de la fonction publique", Aboubacar Yaya, has declared Friday, March 4, 2016, as a non-working public holiday in Bénin ("la journée du vendredi 04 Mars 2016 est déclarée chomée et payée sur toute l'étendue du territoire national") on account of the upcoming Presidential elections that will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2016. Links: full story and other Bénin news and updates.

Vietnamese April 2016 Public Holidays (Source: Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Hanoi) - Summary: The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of the government of Vietnam has confirmed the recent amendments to the official list of 2016 non-working public holidays in Vietnam, which extend the dates for the upcoming Hung Kings, Liberation Day, and May Day, annual non-working public holidays in Vietnam for the calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Vietnam news and updates.

Comoros 2016 Public Holidays Released (Source: Présidence de l'Union des Comores-Moroni) - Summary: The government of the Comoros has announced its list of annual non-working public holidays in the Comoros for the calendar year 2016. Links: full story and other Comoros news and updates.

Uganda Rules-Out March 2 Public Holiday (Source: Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda-Kampala) - Summary: Uganda's permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Catherine Bitarakwate, has announced that the government of Uganda will not declare Wednesday, March 2, 2016, as yet another non-working public holiday in Uganda, on account of the upcoming election of elections for mayors and councilors. Links: full story and other Uganda news and updates.

Moldovan Public Holidays March 7-8 (Source: Agentia Informationala de Stat-Moldpres) - Summary: Moldova's Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Nighina Azizov, has announced that Monday, March 7, 2016, had been declared a one-off bridge public sector holiday in Moldova to link the weekend to the annual March 8 International Women's Day public holiday of Moldova. Links: full story and other Moldova news and updates.

Armenian March 1st Public Holiday Bill (Source: Armenian News Agency-ARMENPRESS) - Summary: A bill has been introduced to the Armenian Parliament by the Armenian National Congress (ANC) NA faction's secretary Aram Manukyan, proposing to make March 1st a new annual non-working public holiday in Armenia or, failing that, a new observance holiday in Armenia. Links: full story and other Armenia news and updates.